"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before reading this sequel)

The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.

Author's Note (Especially for laurel hardy) Characters guide-Primary SVU Characters Olivia Benson, Alex Cabot Primary Original Female Characters Army Lt. Col. Erin Mathison, Attorney Angie Secondary SVU and L&O Characters Elliot Stabler, Casey Novak, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn Secondary Original Characters Jeff Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Dylan Mathison, Petraeus (Erin's Chihuahua), Senator Rushing, TJ McCoy

Thanks for reading and the reviews for the first 15 chapters. Love and appreciate the reviews and it means so much that so many are reading this sequel. #-#

"Double Time" Chapter 16

"Are you sure babe?" Olivia queried softly as Erin drove past the funeral home and pulled into the parking lot of the small coffee shop down the street. "I can just wait in here or once you and the CAO go to the funeral home I can go in and get coffee and read and wait."

"You're so cute and sweet," Erin smirked appreciatively, caressing Olivia's cheek with her hand. "Where's your reading material?"

"Newspaper box right there at the entrance," Olivia countered smiling.

"Babe I appreciate it, but this could be quite a while and besides you all need the vehicle to go shopping or whatever it has changed to since we left the hotel," Erin laughed.

"I don't know my way around this city and I haven't driven an SUV this size in I don't know how long," Olivia commented, squeezing Erin's hand in her lap.

"My New York City cop of a partner is worried about driving an SUV through Nashville with GPS on a 60 degree day. Not buying it," Erin grinned, but then noticed Olivia's smile had disappeared.

Olivia looked down at their intertwined fingers and sighed softly.

"Did you mean that?"

"Mean what?" Erin queried softly trying to recall her exact words for what might have caused the abrupt change in Liv's demeanor. "Babe, look at me. What did I say to make you upset?"

Olivia looked towards Erin, "That's the first time I've heard you refer to me as your partner," Olivia said nervously.

"I'm hoping…I'm really hoping," Erin stammered, squeezing Olivia's hand tighter, "that that isn't a bad thing…'cause…"

"Oh God no, it's not bad, it's great," Olivia said hurriedly seeing Erin's worried expression. "That's how I see you as for me."

"Liv, I love you so much. I am totally and completely in love with you and when I think of today, tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that I hopefully have, it is with us…you as my partner," Erin said sincerely, but still a bit baffled. "Are you sure that's the first time you ever heard me refer to you as my partner?"

"I want that too," Liv tried to smile, but Erin could see it was forced. "It is just a word. I don't…I shouldn't have gotten so hung up on it. And you're probably right…you probably have said it before and I just really heard it this time."

"No, it isn't just a word and even though I have felt that way about you for quite a while I obviously hadn't said partner to you before," Erin sighed, tapping the fingers of her free hand on the steering wheel as the realization hit her. "Babe I've had girlfriends before, a few really good ones…and then yes Sheila was my partner…"

"I'm sorry Erin," Olivia interrupted. "I don't know why…Jesus, it makes me happy that you said it and I fucked it all up with my status insecurity attack…And I'm pretty sure that man in a very similar uniform that just got out of the car with the government plates is the CAO."

"I love you Liv," Erin sighed, her brown eyes locked with Olivia's "I'm sorry. I know I say previous or former partner when I refer to Sheila, that's what she was, but you are my partner and you make me so happy. I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry I hadn't said it before…And I'm sorry I have to go now. We'll talk more later okay?"

"I love you too. I'm sorry…"

"Zip, zip, zip it," Erin said playfully as she adjusted her beret. "There's nothing for you to apologize for. I'll call you as soon as I can. Go have some fun babe."

Olivia slid over to the driver's seat after Erin got out. She watched as Erin paused on her crutches briefly to return the salute of the CAO. After she saw them enter the coffee shop she banged her head against the seat back several times.

"Way to go Benson," she cursed herself, "as if she doesn't have enough on her plate you have to add your trivial rhetoric based insecurity attack to it."

#-#

"Hey you," Alex smiled as Olivia entered the room. "Angie is on a conference call in our room, so since we have adjoining rooms thought I would just hang here 'til she's done and Abbie and Serena are back."

"Where'd they go?" Olivia queried.

"Just walking around since it is nice outside. See if there are any good stores nearby. They'll be back by 12:00," Alex replied. "So did you see anything interesting on the way there or back?"

"No…wasn't really looking around," Olivia murmured as she pulled out the other chair at the small table Alex was sitting at and joined her.

"So you want to talk about whatever has you annoyed or flat out pissed off?" Alex questioned, keenly aware of Olivia's body language.

"I'm only pissed at myself," Olivia sighed, picking up the Nashville tourism magazine and leafing through it.

"Hmmm, am I supposed to guess?" Alex smirked. "You weren't able to parallel park the Yukon on the first try?"

"No, that's not it," Olivia responded sternly, still blankly turning through the pages of the magazine.

"So you can tell me, and we can talk about it, or I'll just continue on with my onslaught of annoying guesses," Alex said firmly while snatching the magazine away.

"Yeah," Olivia smirked sarcastically, "then I can embarrass myself with my stupidity and selfishness not only with Erin but you also."

"So you guys had a fight," Alex said softly.

"No," Olivia chuckled raising her hands above her head and then slapping the table. "As if she doesn't have enough going on I had to choose this morning to have an insecurity attack." Olivia felt her phone vibrate signaling a text message.

I know I referred to you as my partner several times with Kelly yday—Luv u

Olivia slid the phone to Alex so she could read the message and Alex arched a curious eyebrow. Olivia recalled the conversation with Erin for Alex.

"See that's what so stupid about it on my part. We were laughing and when she said partner my initial reaction internally was just such happiness, but then I thought the way it was thrown in to her teasing me about driving back, that maybe she didn't realize she said partner and maybe didn't mean it," Olivia said. "God she tells me she loves me, that she is in love with me, we've talked about moving in together, a future together…and we haven't even known each other a year yet…and I'm hung up on partner."

"Why?" Alex questioned simply.

"Because…because like I told you before I'm afraid…When her helicopter went down and we waited those hours I thought, even though I held onto some hope especially because you all were there…but I thought it would only be the worst news."

"But Liv," Alex said softly intertwining their fingers, "that is over. She is back safely home with you and she loves you. And you two are so good together."

"Is it stupid that I worry sometimes if I measure up even close to a woman who has been dead for three years?" Olivia asked softly. "I mean in truth that's why hearing her say partner and mean me and not Sheila…"

"Does she compare you to Sheila? I've heard her say partner in reference to Sheila but always prefaced with former, previous or deceased."

"No, she's never made me feel like that or done that. It is me and my insecurities," Olivia sighed. "Hell Alex this is the most serious relationship I have ever had and we've been separated for most of it and soon will be separated again."

"So when you were talking to me previously about a possible career change part of the reason is so you could look for a job around D.C.?" Alex questioned.

"Yes," Olivia admitted. "But not just because of my fears of making it work while she's there for 15 or 18 months or whatever it turns out to be before she officially retires, but because I really want to be with her, to be together and not have to do the long distance thing."

"I think you just help her to get through tomorrow with the funeral…And then you know the six of us have all day Sunday and Sunday evening to just hang out and have fun," Alex reassured.

"Well that was kind of my plan," Olivia smirked. "Wait until we got back to New York and talk to her about where we are at and where we are going, and throwing out my career stuff as a topic. But now because I made the big deal about her referring to me as her partner…"

"And she sent you that text so obviously you know that she means it, that it wasn't just an accidental word," Alex interrupted.

"I know, but that is why I feel bad. She's worrying about what I am thinking, trying to reassure me when I should be being strong for her and all she is going through."

"I think she sent you the text because she loves you," Alex smiled. "And if she wants to talk about it when she gets back later or tomorrow, or wants to wait until you are back in New York you are still who is most important to her."

"I'm worrying too much about stupid stuff, aren't I?"

"Liv," Alex smiled, "Yes, I think you are, but hell we all have insecurities and when things are chaotic…I think Erin was genuinely surprised that she had never said that to you before. And I can't cite a specific date and time off the top of my head, but honestly I think I have heard her refer to you as her partner as well."

"Oh Lord," Olivia blushed in embarrassment, "I promise I won't be whiny anymore this weekend. Thank you for listening and helping…again."

"You're welcome," Alex grinned, patting Olivia's hand. "It's good that we both talk a lot more now than we ever used to. But if I thought you were being whiny," Alex chuckled. "I'd just frickin' tell you."

#-#

"Hey babe," Olivia answered her iPhone. "How did it go with Cassie's parents? Do you want me to come pick you up? We're just finishing up lunch down the street from the hotel."

"It went well. Her parents are both very nice as are other family members I've met so far," Erin replied. "I just had a long talk private talk with her father, and I'm going to stay here through visitation hours. It starts in a few at 2:30 and ends at 6:30."

"Okay…well I'll just pick you up at 6:30 then," Olivia said, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

"Babe you all just go and do something fun. Enjoy the afternoon, the weather. I'll catch a cab back and then still be ready to go out by 8:30 tonight like we planned," Erin said sincerely.

"Do you need anything?"

"Yes," Erin smiled. "One thing for sure. You in my arms, kissing you at midnight, and much more afterwards, as we bring in the new year."

"That's what I need too," Olivia smiled, and then felt Alex kick her foot lightly under the booth and saw her smile.

"Tell the gang hi and really…go have some fun now! I'm standing out behind the funeral home and the sun feels so good. We're going to be back to dirty slush and snow and cold in less than 72 hours."

"Will do," Olivia smirked. "I love you."

"Always babe," Erin said ending the call.